You can’t close out summer without going on a no-cook dinner spree. Here are five ways to not turn on the oven.

Veggie Lover’s Club Sandwich (above)
Nothing boring about this veggie sandwich. Choose from smoked tofu or smoked mozzarella for a boost of protein, and give the whole-wheat club an Italian accent with sun-dried tomatoes, arugula and chopped fresh oregano. Read more

This may look like fettuccine, but it's actually just sliced zucchini!

During the summer months, I try to refrain from doing anything that might unnecessarily heat up my tiny apartment – that means not charging my laptop overnight, not using my hair straightener or blow dryer and most importantly, avoiding the oven or stove on the hottest days. Though these kitchen accoutrements are certainly useful for whipping up quick, healthy dishes, who wants to stand in front of a hot stove stir-frying vegetables when it is already 90 degrees outside? With a little inspiration, you can make healthful and tasty meals without even having to turn on the gas or the oven. So beat the heat this summer with these flavorful no-cook dishes!

Zucchini Fettuccine With Tomato Sauce
It’s fettuccine you don’t have to cook! This recipe uses zucchini cut into thin strips to give it the appearance of pasta and a pureed tomato sauce with garlic, pine nuts and a little jalapeno for a kick.

Summer temperatures are skyrocketing way past scorching, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through with sweat clinging to your brow. Beat the heat—and have fun, too—with some of our favorite refreshing, thirst-quenching and downright delicious recipes.

Stay cool with Peaches & Cream Frozen Yogurt. Five ingredients are all it takes to make homemade frozen yogurt filled with fresh peaches. It’s so easy to make at home, how can you resist?

Take a load off with lightened-up pina coladas — large glasses of this coconut cocktail can often run you 650 calories or more thanks to an ingredient called cream of coconut. Keep yours light and refreshing by shrinking the portions of coconut and rum, and make substitutions to add extra coconut flavor.

Want something with a little more sustenance? Try a summer salad. Whether you like it savory or sweet, we’ve got a recipe that’s just right.

Take a walk on the wild (but healthy!) side with Cantaloupe Soup. Prosciutto, cantaloupe, apple juice, chives and a dash of seasoning come together for a meal so light and refreshing you won’t even notice the humidity radiating off of the pavement outside.

Week three of our season-long garden party Summer Fest 2011 welcomes food and garden bloggers to feature garden-to-table recipes and tips. We’ll help you to enjoy all that this season has to offer. So far, we’ve delved into eggplant and peaches. This week we’re getting creative with: cucumbers.

With temperatures reaching 90 degrees in many areas of the country, it’s just too hot to cook. But it’s never too hot to eat right, so mercury rising is no excuse to roll through the drive-through. Ellie Krieger’s Cool Cucumber Soup is just the solution. It’s perfect for the height of summer because:

You won’t need to turn on the oven or stove to make it.

It’s done in 20 minutes.

It’s a great way to use up the cucumbers growing like crazy in the garden.

It clocks in at just 130 calories and 2.5 grams of fat, so makes a waistline-friendly light lunch or appetizer.

Per Ellie, it’s a good source of protein, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calcium.

What are you waiting for? Get out the blender and whip up this super-cool, creamy-yet-good-for you cold soup.

The hot, sticky summer we know and love here in New England has finally come. I’ve tucked away my oven mitts and am giving my stove the rest of the season off. So how do I keep cool with my food? I slice up a coleslaw — a cabbage slaw, a broccoli slaw, you name. And guess what? No mayo!

If you’re planning a summer party or need something for your next beach-side picnic, skip the stove. (Who wants to deal with that on a hot, sticky day anyway?) Here are some ideas for a party spread that will help beat the heat, not create more.

Who needs to be slaving over a hot stove in this summer heat? Try some of these no-cook soups, main dishes and desserts that are a healthy — and cheaper — alternative to dialing up some takeout. They’re packed with fresh fruits and veggies, which means more vitamins and minerals on your plate.